Enameling metallic surfaces



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

ANDREW J. VOLLRATH, OF SHEBOYGAN, WVISOONSIN.

ENAMELING METALLIC SURFACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,352, dated July 21, 1896.

Application filed March 14:, 1896. Serial No.583,24=6. (No specimensi) To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. VoLLRArH, a citizen of the United States, residing at She boygan, in the county of Sheboygan and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Enameling Metallic Surfaces, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a process of enameling metallic surfaces, more particularly applicable to the enameling of extensive surfaces, such as bath-tubs and the like; and the object of my invention is to provide a ready and economical means of applying to such surfaces an enamel of variegated colors.

My invention consists generally in applying to a highly-heated metallic surface a mixture of two or more dry enamels of different colors, and thereupon subjecting the metallic article thus coated to a heat approximating 1,000 Fahrenheit, or more, whereby the enamel is melted and caused to produce a Variegated glazed coating upon the article. It is preferred, as a preliminary to the application of a dry enamel, to apply to the metallic surface a first coating, known as a foundation coating, but, particularly in the case of wroughtiron articles, this foundation coating may be omitted. It is preferred also that the enamels constituting the mixture shall be ground to a uniform fineness and preferably to a fine state of division, as thereby a uniformity of the variegated color is produced, as well as a uniformity in the thickness and density of the coating.

To explain more in detail the method of procedure which it is preferred to follow, I will say that the metallic surface, after being cleaned and scoured in the usual way, has applied to it, either wet or dry, the usual foundation coating, unless, as before mentioned, it is determined to omit such coating. The metallic article thus coated or not is thereupon raised in temperature to a red heat. The enamels, of any ordinary or preferred composition and having different colors, are thereupon separately ground to approximately the same degree of fineness. They are thereupon mixed, or, if preferred, may be ground together or separately for separate application. The enamels thus prepared are thereupon carefully sifted upon the red-hot surface, covering the same uniformly. The iron is thereupon subjected to 1,000 or upward and the enamel melted and fixed. The operation may be repeated as often as is desired to giye to the metallic article a coating of enamel of the desired thickness, density, and uniformity.

I am aware that it is not new to sift dry enamels upon a metallic surface and thereupon to subject the surface to heat for the purpose of melting and fixing the enamel, but so far as I am aware it has never before been suggested to apply to a heated metallic surface an enamel of variegated color and thereupon fixing it. The heat of the surface to which the enamel is applied causes it to adhere readily, and thus renders unnecessary the use of clay or similar binding material.

In this respect the cost of the process is materially less than the ordinary cost of producing a variegated color of enamel upon a metal lic surface.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The process of enameling metallic surfaces, which consists in raising the temperature of the surface and sifting thereon enamels of various colors and thereupon fusing, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The process of enameling metallic surfaces, Which consists in raising the temperature of the metallic article, grinding enamel of different colors to the same degree of fineness and applying said diiferently-colored enamels, by sifting, to the heated surface and thereupon fixing the enamel by heat, substantially as described.

3. The process of enameling metallic surfaces, which consists in heating the metallic article, grinding different-colored enamels to the same degree of fineness and mixing them, and thereupon sifting them thus mixed upon the heated metallic surface and fixing the enamel by heat, substantially as described.

4:. The method of enameling a metallic surface, which consists in applying to the metallic surface a foundation coating of enamel, heating the coated metallic article .to a red heat, grinding different-colored enamels to a uniform degree of fineness, sifting said variously-colored enamels upon the heated metallic surface and fixing the enamel by heat, substantially as described.

ANDREW J. VOLLRATH. 

